East Norriton community gathers to welcome Army private home

U.S. Army Private Michael James Bergen embraces Ride Leader Gary "Rasper" Tomasetti of Warrior's Watch at his parents' home in East Norriton. Bergen is scheduled for deployment in the fall. Photo by Brendan Wills/Times Herald Staff.

U.S. Army Private Michael James Bergen stands with friends, family, members of Warrior's Watch Riders, and members of the East Norriton Fire and Police Departments. Bergen is scheduled for deployment in the fall. Photo by Brendan Wills/Times Herald Staff.

EAST NORRITON — The flashing red lights of East Norriton fire trucks, the blazing blue lights of East Norriton police cruisers and the white, shining chrome of the Warriors’ Watch Riders motorcycle group all came together Sunday morning to make an entire stretch of Township Line Road into one long American Flag that led U.S. Army Private Michael James Bergen to Steppy’s Bar and Grille, where a throng of family and friends waited to surprise the young hero after almost a year away from home.

Bergen, a 2006 Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School graduate, left home in August 2013 to begin training with the U.S. Army. Stationed in Hawaii and currently participating in desert training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., Bergen has earned his Master Sharp Shooter and his certificate and license to drive a striker vehicle.

With deployment scheduled for October, Bergen came home Sunday for 13 days leave to see family and friends.

Bergen’s mother, Denise, said she wanted to make the day her son came home as special as possible. Luckily for Denise, she works in a dental office and one of the patients happens to be Gary “Rasper” Tomasetti.

Advertisement

Tomasetti is a member of the Warrior’s Watch Riders, a nationwide coalition which, according to the Warrior’s Watch website, consists of groups and individuals dedicated to the support of our nation’s warriors and which provides motorcycle escorts for military units returning from war, for units deploying, and for individual warriors coming home or going off.

“Gary told me it doesn’t matter that he hasn’t been deployed yet. He said he signed an oath to protect our country and that is all that matters,” Denise said.

Together with Maria Hyland of A Hero’s Welcome, Tomasetti worked with Denise to organize the surprise motorcycle and police escort that brought Michael to the waiting party of friends and family. A Hero’s Welcome, according to their website, was founded by Sharon Hyland Keyser in order to ensure that all American troops are respected and appreciated when they return from war.

“We try to get as many bikes as we can,” Tomasetti said. “We coordinate with mom and try to find out what makes the kid tick. Then we try to deliver that as much as we can to make sure we meet those expectations.”

When Tomasetti learned Michael loved all things car, he called in a few favors and a line of hot rods and sports cars were lined up in the parking lot across the street from Steppy’s when the escort pulled into the party.

“I’m the proudest mom in the world,” Denise said, standing next to Michael’s sisters, Jenna and Alyssa.

Feeling the ground shake with the sound of almost one hundred bikes and the air filled with the engines and sirens, neighbors came out of their houses to join Michael’s friends and family in the surprise visit.

Michael, together with his grandfather, U.S. Army Veteran Gennaro Daquilantek, who stood next to his wife, Mary, shook hands with every member of the gathered crowd, which lined up to thank and greet the family of heroes.

“The only people that are missing today are his other two grandparents,” said Michael’s father, James, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard. The elder Bergen’s father, George Joseph Bergen Sr., and his brother, George Bergen Jr., both served in the U.S. Navy. “I know they’re watching down on us today,” he said about his deceased parents.

“I’m in awe. I’m speechless,” James said. “They’re all Vietnam vets. They’re all Korea vets. They’re thanking us for our service and we’re thanking them for their service.”

Michael’s neighbor, Dom Ramsay, a helicopter door-gunner who served two tours in Vietnam, heard the sirens and looked out his window. Minutes later he was outside donning his uniform and shaking hands with Bergen.

After photos and congratulations, it was time for the escort to move on to the party waiting down the road at Steppy’s.

Emerging from his father’s truck, the crowd cheered and applauded the young man, who many had not seen in a year.

“This is probably the greatest day of my life,” Michael said to the crowd as he stood next to his fiancé, Alison Zeltner. “This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

With only 13 days to catch up with friends and prepare for deployment to either Somalia or New Zealand in the fall, he said he will spend those days “getting ready to continue.” Michael’s striker infantry division is “first on call.”

“At any given time I could be gone,” he added.

“I want to say thank you to the city of Norristown and surrounding areas for the love and support not just for me but for all my brothers and sisters in arms,” Michael said. “The support you give us keeps us strong and keeps us fighting for freedom.

“I want to say one more thing: this is for the Golden Dragons Right of the Line Second Brigade 25th I.D.”